Revise/Edit AFTER Your First Complete Draft
So often I hear this question: “When should I revise my work? Should I be focused on editing the grammar and syntax as I go along? Should I edit after I finish a chapter? A scene? A paragraph? Within the sentence?”
First, let me say that different writers write and edit differently. However, I highly suggest that you do not edit AT ALL until your first draft is completed.
Editing IS important and this cannot be emphasized enough. However, trying to edit as you write can often be detrimental to your creative processes. When you are first writing it is important to simply write, to let the words go, and get the sentences out. When you first write, you do not want to be encumbered by thoughts of grammatical error or plot holes.
I am not saying that grammar and consistency are not important, they are, but not when you first start drafting. The point of the first draft is simply to create. Once you have finished the first draft, then it is time to go back and edit.
Therefore, once you have finished, I suggest editing chapter by chapter. Check and make sure every chapter has a fully developed arc and correct your grammar. After that, do a second revision to check that all of your chapters flow into one another and that the story is complete with no gaps.
Happy Writing Everyone!
***If you enjoyed today’s Writing Tip, be sure to check out other tips under the “Writing Tips” section on my home page!
©KaylaAnnAuthor
© KaylaAnn and KaylaAnnAuthor.wordpress.com, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to KaylaAnn and KaylaAnnAuthor.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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So helpful 🙏🏻
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Glad to be helpful to fellow writers!
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well written.
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Thank you!
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It would be great if you would like to publish this on our website.
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Feel free to reblog 😀 So glad you enjoyed it!
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We don’t reblog. If you wish, you can visit our website and register yourself and start writing.
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Thanks for the offer, but I mainly write for my own blog 👍🏻
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This is great advice, Kayla. I had to learn how to write without editing as I went along. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but you really do have to do this.
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Thank you! I agree, our natural instinct is to get everything perfect right off the bat but it doesn’t quite work that way
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Hi Kayla! I always look forward to your posts and tips. Thanks a lot.
I have nominated you for Liebster Award 2018. If it’s not too much trouble, please check it out using the link below:
https://memoirsincoal.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/yay-i-got-nominated/
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Hey, that is so awesome of you! Thank you! I don’t really reblog awards but I’ll check it out 😀
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It is a very helpful post. Thanks for sharing all these tips with us.
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So glad you found it helpful! Writing is hard enough, but its easier when we get together and share our knowledge.
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I completely agree.
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I use the free version of Grammarly, which is very helpful. I find that if I walk away from my rough draft and then come back to it, I catch more errors. Also, regarding previous posts, it is a good idea to do a blog audit every now and then. Sometimes, things go awry and you may find missing images, grammatical errors and/or a post you may want to rework.
I change themes frequently, which not everything runs smoothly in the transition.
Thanks for the tips, Kayla.
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I’ve heard of Grammarly but I’ve never tried it, I guess I am just too old fashioned that way.
Oh, so very true about blog posts!
Thanks for commenting and sharing your insights!
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I constantly writing and re-writing :(( I just afraid to forget to correct certain scene/part of a dialog/etc. in the end of the first draft. Probably, that’s why I have been writing my first novel for almost two years, and then it took me a year to edit it…for the twentieth time:((
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I totally feel your struggle, but at some point we have to stop focusing on being perfect and start focusing on completing the project because once it is complete we have clear eyes to edit. It also helps to get a friend’s opinion because they aren’t seeing it through your eyes.
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Definitely! Feedback is extremely important. My first novel went all around a local writing group which I’ve been attending for almost two years, my husband and most of my friends have read it, too. My husband has been forced to read it twice;))) The very first draft and the final one;)))
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A local writing group sounds amazing! Very cool that you found one. Lol, sounds like a really good husband! My fiance might have some reading ahead of him 😉
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Absolutely true
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Yep…it is absolutely true…No gaps and complete grammar revision. Thank you this…this material is GOLDEN
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Thank you J.M., I’m so glad you find it helpful!
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Really helpful
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Thank you, glad you think so!
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Welcome Aany
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